Farmer questions Didi, she calls him Maoist

Kolkata: A man, who had publicly questioned West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee about her government policies towards farmers, was arrested from West Midnapore district for "disrupting a public rally and assaulting police officers", police said on Saturday.

He was later remanded to 14 days' judicial custody by a court.

Terror behind that smile. Agencies

"Shiladitya Chowdhury was arrested on Saturday morning and booked for disrupting a public rally, entering into a high security zone and assaulting police personnel," Superintendent of Police, Jhargram, Bharati Ghosh said.

Banerjee, on a visit to the Maoist-affected Belpahari area in the district on Wednesday, was addressing a public rally when Chowdhury stood up and asked her: "Farmers are dying because they have no money. Empty promises are not enough. What are you doing for farmers?"

Stunned by the question, an angry Banerjee immediately branded him a "Maoist" following which Chowdhury was detained and taken for interrogation by the police.

He was, however, allowed to go that day but was arrested again on Saturday morning.